TEACHING LEARNING COLLABORATIVE (TLC)
Heat Moves
EARTH SCIENCE
Grade
6
Created by: Sandra Cornell (Terrace Middle School); Sue Cascio (Coyote Valley Elementary
School); and Stacy Holland (Terrace Middle School)
Science Content Standards: Grade 6, 3c — Students know heat flows in solids by conduction
(which involves no flow of matter) and in fluids by conduction and by convection (which
involves flow of matter); 3d Students know heat energy is also transferred between objects by
radiation (radiation can travel through space).
Lesson Concept: Thermal energy can be transferred through the processes of radiation,
convection, and conduction.
Conceptual Flow:
The sun’s energy is transferred to the Earth with a wide range of wave lengths consisting of
visible light, infrared, and ultraviolet.
 Heat is the transfer of energy when one object has a relatively higher temperature than
another object.
 Heat moves in predictable ways, from warmer to cooler objects, until both are the same
temperature.
 Thermal energy can be transferred through the processes of radiation, convection, and
conduction.
 Conduction is heat transferring through direct contact of a warmer object to a cooler one.
 Convection is heat transfer through a fluid (liquid or gas) creating a current as cold,
denser matter displaces warm less dense matter.
 Radiation is the transfer of heat through space between objects that are not touching.
Teacher Background:
In both solids and fluids (liquids and gases), heat transfer is measured by changes in
temperature. Conduction occurs when a group of atoms or molecules whose average kinetic
energy is greater than that of another group transfers some of that excess energy by means of
collisions. Because hot objects have atoms with greater average kinetic energy than do cold
ones, there is a transfer of this kinetic energy from hot to cold.
In a solid the atoms vibrate in place, but energy may still be transferred from atom to atom as
happens when a pan is placed on a stove and its handle becomes hot.
Heat Moves (GRADE 6, EARTH SCIENCE)
page 2
The same mechanism describes the conduction of heat in liquids and gases, where the atoms
are free to slip past one another provided there is no cumulative flow in the material.
Convection occurs because most fluids become less dense when heated; the hot fluid will rise
through cold fluid because of the hot fluid’s greater buoyancy. As hot fluid arises away from a
heat source, it may cool, become denser, and sink back to the source to be warmed again. The
resulting circulation is called a convection current. Convection currents account for the water in
a kettle reaching a uniform temperature although the kettle is warmed only at the bottom.
Another form of energy transfer between objects is radiation: the emission and absorption of
electromagnetic waves. Radiation is fundamentally different from conduction and convection in
that the objects do not have to be in contact with each other or be joined by a solid or fluid
material. Heating by sunlight is an obvious example of radiant energy transfer. Both the heat
and the light that can be seen are forms of electromagnetic radiation.
(Excerpted from the Science Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve.)
For definitions of conduction, convection, and radiation, see
www.wisc-online.com/objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=SCE304
For additional information on heat flow, see “Heat Flow and Air Flow” by Cathy Koehler in
“Other Science Resources” on this website.
Materials Needed for the Lesson:
Teacher Materials
For the three stations:
 Station 1
 Lamp (goose neck)
 card stock (approximately 5" x 7")
 Station 2
 Jar of hot water
 Station 3
 Larger beaker (or a 4-6 cup heat resistant glass pot or measuring cup)
 Hot plate
 Miso soup
Student Hands-on Materials
 Whiteboards (optional)
Student Handouts
 “Student Handout 1: Heat Activities”
 “Student Handout 2: Heat Transfer” (assessment)
LAKE SCIENCE COLLABORATIVE
Heat Moves (GRADE 6, EARTH SCIENCE)
page 3
5E Lesson: Heat Moves
Teacher Does
Student Does
Concept
ENGAGE:
Skit: Narrator; Main Character (Ms. Tannalot).
Select 1 student to be in the skit and act out the
role of Ms. Tannalot as the teacher reads the
Narrator’s part.
 We are going to be doing a skit. We want you
to be watching for situations where heat is
being transferred.
Expected Student Response
(ESR): Watch skit.
 NARRATOR: It is summer, and look, there’s
Ms. Tannalot all kicked back in her lounge
chair, enjoying her vacation, complete with her
sunglasses and summer wear. Oh, how she is
enjoying those sun rays.
Hours go by, and she is feeling so hot, so
thirsty for a cool drink. As she goes to find
something to quench her thirst – ouch, it seems
that the sand has burned her tender little feet!
Oh, poor Ms. Tannalot.
Once her feet are feeling better, she gets a
cold drink. She sets her drink in the hot sand.
As she sips her drink, the drink is cold on top
and warm on the bottom – but then it starts
feeling warm on top.
***End of Skit***
 NARRATOR: We’ve just demonstrated,
through our skit, the three types of heat
transfer. We’d like for you and a partner to
discuss where you saw examples of heat
transfer, describing at least one heat transfer
on your whiteboard.
Have students show their boards. Have one set of
students share one description of heat transfer,
then ask:
 Who else saw that one? Someone share a
different example of heat transfer; raise your
hand if you have that one, etc.
Note: Students will learn the proper terms of the
three types of heat transfers in this lesson. Avoid
telling them the answer at this time. Consider
using the skit again at the end of the lesson to
assess students' understanding and their use of
proper terminology.
LAKE SCIENCE COLLABORATIVE
Discuss with partner. Describe
examples of heat transfers.
Students show boards and
describe an example of heat
transfers.
ESR: sun rays on body; hot
sand on feet; ice in drink.
Heat is the transfer of
energy when one object
has a relatively higher
temperature than
another object.
Heat Moves (GRADE 6, EARTH SCIENCE)
page 4
EXPLORE:
 You will be exploring three stations showing
different ways heat is transferred from one
object to another.
Explain the stations:
 Station #1 – Heat lamp: hold your hands about
6 inches from the lamp. Have a partner hold a
card stock over one of your hands for the count
of 10 and then remove the card stock. Think
about how the heat was getting to your hand.
 Station #2 – Jar of hot war: Put your hand on
the jar. Think about how the heat from the jar is
getting to your hand.
 Station #3 – Beaker of Miso soup on hot plate:
Observe what happens to the bits in the soup.
You will draw and label what you see. Think
about what is causing the bits of soup to go up
and down.
Distribute “Heat Activities” to students. Assign
students to stations.
 Rotate through stations (you will have about 8
minutes per station) and on the “Heat Activities”
sheet, answer for each station up to “Definition”
and “Examples.” We will answer these together.
Record observations.
Once students have complete all three stations
discuss with them:
 Station #1- How does the heat get to your
hand?
ESR: The heat moved through
the air.
 Station #1 is an example of radiation. On your
definition line write the following (and write on
the board for students to copy): Radiation is the
transfer of heat through space between objects
that are not touching. What are some examples
of radiation?
 Station #2 – How is the heat from the jar getting
to your hand?
ESR: The sun; the fire, heater
ESR: The heat moved straight
from the jar to my hand.
 Station #2 is an example of conduction.
Conduction is heat transferring through direct
contact of a warmer object to a cooler one.
 What are some examples of conduction?
LAKE SCIENCE COLLABORATIVE
Radiation is the transfer
of heat through space
between objects that
are not touching.
ESR: A pan on the stove;
holding a cup of hot chocolate;
burning tongue on hot food; hot
car seat in summer; hot sand
on feet.
Conduction is heat
transferring through
direct contact of a
warmer object to a
cooler one.
Heat Moves (GRADE 6, EARTH SCIENCE)
 Station #3 – What did you notice that the bits of
page 5
ESR: They went up and down.
soup were doing?
 Station #3 is an example of convection.
Convection is heat transfer through a liquid
creating a current as cold, denser matter
displaces warm less dense matter.
 What are some examples of convection?
ESR: Something boiling on the
stove; magma in the mantle;
air/weather.
EXPLAIN:
Distribute the assessment: “Heat Transfer.”
 Write which type of heat transfer is being
shown in the picture.
Once everyone has completed identifying the
pictures, ask students to talk with a partner and
take turns to explain each type of heat transfer.
Discuss or do the skit again and ask students to
name the type of heat transfer.
ESR: Write the type of heat
transfer on the student sheet.
Give the definition or explain
how the heat is being
transferred to a partner.
Convection is heat
transfer through a liquid
creating a current as
cold, denser matter
displaces warm less
dense matter.
Conduction, convection,
and radiation are the
three processes of heat
transfer.
ESR: sun rays on body
(radiation); hot sand on feet
(conduction); ice in drink
(convection).
EXTEND:
Have students answer the question on the bottom
of the student sheet, “Heat Transfer.” Allow them
to use their textbook or other resources.
Do the “Popcorn Lesson (Three Methods of
Heating)”: http://aspire.cosmicray.org/labs/atmosphere/popcorn.html
Download and sing a song about conduction,
convection, and radiation from:
www.educationalrap.com/song/radiationconduction-convection.html
Study convection in the mantle. For technical
information for the teacher go to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantle_(geology)
#Movement
Input Question: What are some examples of convection? (in Explore section)
Process Question: Explain which type of heat transfer is being shown in the picture and
explain. (in Explain section)
Output Question: How is the heat from the jar getting to your hand? (In Explore section)
LAKE SCIENCE COLLABORATIVE
Name: _____________________
Heat Moves
STUDENT HANDOUT 1
Heat Activities
Station 1: Heat Lamp
Describe what happened when you placed your hand under the card stock:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
How is heat getting to your hand?
_______________________________________________________________
Definition: _____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Examples:
______________________________________________________________
Station 2: Conduction
Describe what happened when you placed your hand on the jar.
_______________________________________________________________
How is the heat from the jar getting to your hand?
_______________________________________________________________
Definition: ______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Examples:
_______________________________________________________________
LAKE SCIENCE COLLABORATIVE
Heat Moves
Name: _____________________
Station 3: Convection
Describe what you observe in the glass container.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Draw and label what you see.
Definition: _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Examples:
_______________________________________________________________
LAKE SCIENCE COLLABORATIVE
Name: _____________________
Heat Moves
STUDENT HANDOUT 2
Heat Transfer
The following pictures show the different types of heat transfer. Review
each picture and determine which type of heat transfer is correct. Is it
RADIATION, CONDUCTION, or CONVECTION? Write the correct response
under each picture.
1. _______________
2. ______________
3. _____________
4. _______________
5. _____________
6. _____________
Radiation, conduction, and convection — what processes of heat transfer apply
to:

the weather?

Earth’s mantle?

ocean or lake currents?
LAKE SCIENCE COLLABORATIVE